Early Societies in South Asia

AP Exam Tip Indian subcontinent is called South Asia

Review the Harappa and the collapse

Early Aryan India

Early Aryans After 1500 BCE, for centuries Dravidian and Indo European peoples intermarried, interacted and laid foundations of society Who were they? Light-skinned Indo European language speakers Pastoralists Sheep, goats Prized horses Expensive b/c rare in India Harness to carts, wagons, chariots Principal measure of wealth: cattle This bronze sword manufactured by Aryan craftsmen was a much stronger and more effective weapon than the lighter swords of Harappan defenders. 

Vedic Age 1500 BCE-500 BCE Shows early Aryan society Had no writing originally Passed down religious and literary works orally in their sacred language, Sanskrit Vedas is the collection of hymns, songs, prayers, and rituals honoring the various gods “Veda” means “wisdom” or “knowledge” Rig Veda is the most important 1,028 hymns to Aryan gods Earliest and most important

What do we see from the Vedas? Refers frequently to the conflicts w/ the indigenous people “dasas” meaning “enemies” Ex. Indra-war god and military hero Ravages citadels, smashed dams, destroyed forts

Changing Political Organization Aryans began to settle and rely on agriculture Created regional kingdoms

Varnas: The Caste System Caste comes from Portuguese word “casta” or “race” or “purity of blood” Social Organization Varna means “color” but becomes “class” Origins in Aryan domination of Dravidians Jati (means “birth group) subsystem of castes Related to urbanization, increasing social and economic complexity Each one had its proper occupation, duties, rituals

Caste and Varna Older than jati, system of broad categories in the hierarchy Brahmins rituals and sacrifices ensure proper functioning of the world Tribal medicine men and sorcerers will find place here Kshatriyas: warrior and rulers protect and govern society Frequently in conflict over ranking higher over Brahmin, but eventually Brahmins will emerge top Vaisya were commoners that cultivated the land Business class or merchants become dominant Top 3 castes regarded as pure Aryans Called the “twice born” B/c they experienced physical birth and born into status as people of Aryan descent

Sudras Servants to the top castes Margins of Aryan society Not allowed to hear or take part in Aryan rituals Valued little Ex. Brahmins could kill a Sudra and be penalized as if he had killed a cat or dog

Harijans or “Untouchables” Outside of the varna system Most unclean and polluting jobs This 1947 photograph from Life magazine illustrates the “purity and pollution” thinking that has long been central to the ideology of caste. It shows a high-caste dropping wages wrapped in a leaf into the outstretched hands of his low-caste workers. By avoiding direct physical contact with them, he escapes the ritual pollution that would otherwise ensue.

Harijans or “Untouchables” Although the Indian constitution of 1950 legally abolished “untouchability,” active discrimination persists against this lowest group in the caste hierarchy, now known as Dalits, or the oppressed. Sweeping is just one of many Dalit occupations; here several sweepers perform their tasks in front of an upper- caste home.

Caste as Jati Jati is your occupational group (subcaste) Marriage and eating together permitted only w/in your own jati Each jati had own set of duties, rules and obligations It defined their place in society “It’s better to do one’s duty badly than another’s well.”

AP Exam Tip Understand and be able to compare social inequalities of all types, not just caste system in India (Foundations unit)

Patriarchal Society Enforced in the The Lawbook of Manu Dealt w/ proper moral and social behavior “A virtuous wife should constantly serve her husband.” Woman’s most important role is to bear children and maintain home Later in history, women seen as “unclean below the navel”, so forbidden to learn the Vedas and excluded from public rituals Caste, Jati, inheritance through male line This greenish-blue schist (metamorphic rock) carving illustrates the devotion of a mother to her child. 

The practice of “sati” Best example of women’s dependence on men Widow voluntarily threw herself onto the funeral pyre of her deceased husband to join him in death Never became widely practiced Moralists recommended it to socially prominent men Reinforced subordination of women

Aryan Religion Major deity of Rig Veda: Indra, war god, rain, water Polytheistic Elaborate ritual sacrifices to gods Role of Brahmins important Sacrifice or slaughter 100s of animals, chanted, used soma Accompanied by an attendant bearing his banner and weapons, Indra, chief deity of the Rig Veda, rides an elephant that carries him through the clouds, while a king and a crowd of people in the landscape below worship a sacred tree. 

Teachings of the Upanishads Composed 800-400 BCE, some later collections until 13th century CE Dialogues from sages to students -dialogues Emphasized high ethical standards Discourage greed, envy, gluttony, Advocated honesty, self-control, charity, mercy, personal integrity Respect to all living things –animals also Doctrine Brahman: the Universal Soul Samsara: reincarnation Karma: the good /bad deeds that follow to the next life Moksha: deep dreamless sleep that came from permanent liberation from physical incarnations and become one with Brahman